ABOUT 3707 BMTS Lackland AB San Antonio Tx
- Gateway to the Air Force: The 3707th Basic Military Training Squadron (BMTS) at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas, was famously known as the "Gateway to the Air Force," processing thousands of new Airmen each year.
- Historic Activation: The 3707th BMTS was activated in the late 1940s as part of the massive post-World War II expansion and reorganization of Air Force training.
- Training Millions: Over its decades of operation, the 3707th BMTS trained millions of recruits, making it one of the most prolific basic training units in the United States military.
- Iconic "Rainbow Flights": New recruits were initially assigned to "Rainbow Flights," so named because everyone wore different civilian clothes before being issued uniforms, making the flights look like a rainbow in formation.
- Squadron Dormitories: The 3707th BMTS dormitory buildings, such as the old "Disneyland" and "Alcatraz" dorms, became legendary among generations of Airmen for their strict discipline and unique personalities.
- Integration Milestone: In 1948, Lackland and the 3707th BMTS played a key role in racial integration, being among the first Air Force training units to integrate African American recruits.
- Women in the Force: The 3707th BMTS also trained Women in the Air Force (WAFs) after the integration of female recruits into basic training in 1976.
- Legendary Drill Instructors: The unit was renowned for its tough and skilled Military Training Instructors (MTIs), who were instantly recognizable by their campaign hats and booming voices.
- Flight Graduation Ceremonies: The graduation parade and coin ceremony at the 3707th BMTS became a rite of passage for every Airman, attended by family and dignitaries from around the world.
- Deactivation and Legacy: The 3707th BMTS was deactivated in 1998 as part of a restructuring that consolidated several training squadrons, but its legacy continues through modern Air Force basic training at Lackland.